Temperature-indicator for radiators



A. A. BENSON AND H- BARNES.

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR FOR RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1,1919.

Patentw Nov. 22, 1921.

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AJRY A. BENSON AND HORACE BARNES, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,5 ASSIGNORS, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

AUTO RADIO METER COMPANY, OF

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

TEMPERATUEE-INDIOATOR FOR RADIATORS.

teasers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov, 22, 1921.

Application filed November 1, 1919. Serial No; 335,204.

To allwhomit may concern: Be it known that we, ARY A. BENSON and HORACE BARNES, citizens of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Temperature-Indicators for Radiators, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention r5 instruments to indicate the temperature of the cooling water in the radiator of an alttomobile and has for its object the provision of a simple and eflicient means to indicate the rise in temperature of the cooling water of a radiator when the same exceeds a predetermined temperature and to make the same visible from the drivers seat of the car. a

A further object of the invention is the provision of reflecting apparatus whereby light raysimpinging upon the front of the instrument are d eflected through the indicator, whereby the instrument may be read from the drivers seat at night.

The invention consists in the novel construction of a temperature-indicating apparatus and the combination and adaptation therewith of light-reflecting devices, as will be fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and finally set forth in tlie appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a View in vertical section of apparatus embodying our invention on line 1--1'of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation. Fig. 4-. is a rear View in elevation of the invention. I

Referring to said views, the reference numeral 1 indicates the filling tube of an auto-- mobile radiator, and 2 the removable cap closure, therefor. Said cap may be formed with a centrally positioned opening provided with an internally threaded ring 3. 5 indicates a circular casing. having two substantially flat front and'rear opposing faces 6 and 7, respectively, and inclosing a substantially circular chamber 8. Said casing is formed with a throat 10 in its lower portion, to which a tube 11 is integrally 'or otherwise connec.

ates to improvements in Said-tube is adapted to be inserted within said filling tube and is. connected to said rin 3. The tube is closed at its lower end and is arranged to support a thermostatic member comprising a rod 12 that is connected with a thermostat 13 which is formed of a plurality of inter-connected U-shaped' elements and is readily affected by heat to expand it longitudinally. The lower end of the thermostat 13 is supported by a set screw 16 that ;s screwed through the bottom end of the tube 11 and serves as a means of adjusting the thermostat. v

17 and 18 indicate, respectively, indicating shutter members that are pivotally mounted adjacent their lower ends upon a pin 20 secured in the side walls 6 and -7 of the casing, Said shutters are disposed upon said pin in side by side relation and are each formed with a downwardly extending 0ppositely curved projection 17 and 18', respectively, which are arranged to be engaged by the upper extremity of the rod 12 which is beveled, as at 21, and as the thermostat extends in length through the increase of heat in the radiator, the said projections 17 and 18 will be forced apart by the upward movement of the rod 12 and the shutter members will be caused to close from their inoperative positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, :more or less, toward each other to their-opposite extreme or closed positions are preferably composed of a transparent material, such as celluloid, and of a contrasting color, such as red, whereby they will be clearly distinguished from the drivers seat when visible.

A glass window 25 of circular configuration is-mounted centrally in the rear wall 7 of the casing and the portion of said Wall not to cut away to provide for said window is intended to shield, the view of said shutters from the drivers seat when the shutters are in their inoperative condition. In the front wall 6 of the casing, we provide a lens 26 formed with a plurality of circular concentric prisnis 27 whereby light rays impinging upon them will be straightened out and deflected as much as may be in parallel lines through the window 25, and when the shutter members 17 and 18 are visible through said window, the light will be dithrough the window at all times even when the shutters 1'7 and 18 are closed.

The manner of operation of our invention is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description. It may be stated, however, that the thermostat is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and will act immediately and positively upon the shutters to actuate them into visible positions, the relative lengths of the projections 17' and 18 being such that'considerable movement of the shutters is eflected by a relatively slight movement of the rod. The rod is also capable of adjustment in its engagement with said projections by means of the adjustment screw 16. a

When installed in operative position upon the radiator of an automobile, the rear side 7 of'the instrument will be viewed by the driver and as long as no undue amount of heat is generated in the radiator, the shutters will be invisible through the win- JdOW 25 but upon an increase of temperatture to a predetermined degree to which the thermostat will be set through the adjustment screw 16, the projections 17 and 18 will be engaged to actuate the shutters more or less across the opening closed by said window and due to the color of said shutters will be plainly seen when their edges first appear.

The circular prisms 27 of the lens 26 will also be evident and thereby the degree of temperature of the. radiator may be more easily determined.

At night it is evident that light rays from whatever source, such as from headlights on approaching vehicles or street lamps, that impinge on said lens 26 or upon the reflector 28, will be directed through the lens and through the transparent shutters 17 and 18 and will cause the latter to be clearly seen at night to almost the same degree as by day.

Having described our invention, what we neeaais claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In an instrument of the class described, a casing provided with a sightopening in its rear wall and a lens in its front wall, a pair of shutters pivotally mounted to vibrate across said opening, and a thermostatic member arranged to impinge upon said shutters to close said shutters across said opening upon an increase of temperasaid window, a shutter arranged to vibrate across said window, and thermostatic means to cause said shutter to move across said window in ,responseto predetermined variations in temperature.

4. In an instrument of the class described, a casing having a windowin its rear wall and a lens in its front wall, of a movable shutter arranged to move across said-window, and a thermostatic device for actuating said shutter in response to changes of temperature. 5. An instrument of the class described,

consisting in a casing, light openings in the front and rear walls of the casing, a shutter pivotally mounted in said casing and formed of translucent material to ad mit the passage of lighttherethrough from the front light opening, and a thermostatic device-for actuating said shutter across said light openings in response to changes of temperature.

6. An instrument of the class described, consisting in a casing having a window in its rear wall, and a lens 111 its front wall,

said lens being formed with a plurality of concentric prisms adapted to direct the light rays impinging thereon toward said window, a circular reflector upon said front wall arranged to reflect light rays imping-' ing thereon toward, said lens, a pair of transparent shutters pivotally mounted in said casing, of a contrasting color, said shutters normally remaining concealed from view through said window, and a thermostatic device for actuating said shutters across said window in response to changes of temperature.

7. An instrument of the class described,

consisting in a casing having a window in I its rear wall and a lens In its front wall,

said lens being formed with a plurality of concentric, prisms adapted to direct light rays toward said window, a circular reflector upon said front wall. arranged to reflect light rays'impinging thereon toward said lens, a pair of shutters pivotally mounted in said casing, said shutters normally ing said projection at its upper end to actuate said shutters in accordance with variations of temperature afl'ecting the rod.

8. An instrument of the class described, consisting in a casing having a window in its rear wall, and, a lens in its front wall, said lens being formed with a plurality of concentric prisms adapted to direct the light rays impinging thereon toward said window, a circular reflector upon said front wall arranged to reflect light, rays impinging thereon toward said lens, a pair of transparent shutters pivotally mounted in said casing of a contrasting color, said shuttors normally remaining concealed from view through said window, springs arranged to maintain said shutters yieldingly in their concealed posit-ions, said shutters having downwardly directed projections, a rod having a wedge-shapedupper end arranged to engage between said projections and move said shutter members, a thermostatic member secured to the bottom end of said rod and arranged to move said rod in response to variations of temperature afi'ecting it, a tube depending from said casing and arranged to inclose said rod and said thermostat, and a screw adjustably supporting the bottom end of said thermostat.

Seattle, Washington, October 20th, 1919.

' ARY A. BENSON. HORACE BARNES. 

